December 24, 2017

Our 12 Days of Christmas Artisan Giveaway has wrapped up, and the entries have been tallied. With the most entries, I'd like to congratulate WILL GRIESMER on winning the entire prize package, valued at over $300. Way to go, Will! Those daily tweets really put you over the top.

Thanks to everyone who participated, all the artisans and vendors had great fun connecting with you. Next year, we'll be back with more exciting goodies so stay tuned.

December 23, 2017

Any chance I get, I'm searching for the best plane fares, plotting out a road trip route or looking for interesting sites to visit.

A few years ago, my husband and I took a weekend road trip to Clear Lake, Iowa. Yes, Iowa. Clear Lake, Iowa is home to the Surf Ballroom. If you've never read about The Surf, check it out HERE. Visiting the Surf Ballroom in person is a somewhat religious experience, especially if you're familiar with 50s and 60s music. Definitely worth the trip.

The town of Clear Lake is completely adorable. We stayed at an Airbnb rental which was a small home with a nice master bedroom, full kitchen, living and dining rooms, upstairs full of beds for guests, really everything we needed. Located only two blocks from the lake, we walked around chatting with the friendly locals. We hit a fabulous coffee shop, mercantile store and even got lucky at the farmer's market (located in the Surf parking lot).

Here's the kicker: Our Airbnb cost only $60/night!

If you have future travel plans, anywhere from Clear Lake, Iowa to Lake Tjornin in Reykjavik, Iceland, check out Airbnb. They're everywhere!

If you sign up for Airbnb, I'll even contribute $40 toward your first adventure.

December 18, 2017

Throughout the 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway, we
will "spotlight" the artisans who have graciously donated items for
the prize package. Please join me in visiting these artisans, makers and vendors
through their various websites (below).

And don't forget to enter for your chance to win
the prize package, valued at $300! Details >> HERE <<. Good luck!
:)

Please tell
us a little bit about yourself and your business:
My name is Dorothy Redner, my business is Dotty’s Artisanal Soap and Treasures.
I'm from Michigan but now reside in beautiful middle Tennessee. I started
creating bath and body products for my family to get away from all the
chemicals in commercial products. In growing in my knowledge, I have found that
homemade bath and body products offer so much more such as lots of skin loving
ingredients that leave your skin feeling amazing.

December 17, 2017

Throughout the 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway, we
will "spotlight" the artisans who have graciously donated items for
the prize package. Please join me in visiting these artisans, makers and vendors
through their various websites (below). And don't forget to enter for your chance to win the prize package, valued at $300! Details >> HERE <<. Good luck! :)

Please tell
us a little bit about yourself and your business:
Lisa Halverson, Healing Hearts One Drop at a Time. I live in Apple Valley and
"my boys" husband and son and I love to do biking, kayaking and
camping outdoors. We have two dogs and two cats. I love to scrapbook and use
and sell my essential oils.

December 15, 2017

Throughout the 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway, we will "spotlight" the artisans who have graciously donated items for the prize package. Please join me in visiting these artisans, makers and vendors through their various websites (below). And don't forget to enter for your chance to win the prize package, valued at $300! Details >> HERE <<. Good luck! :)

Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your business:

My name is Amy Gray, my business is Lularoe Amy Gray. I wanted the flexibility to stay home with my two kiddos and not have a boss, have my own schedule and flexibility. I’m from the Faribault area, love to travel and currently live in Elko.

December 13, 2017

Throughout the 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway, we will "spotlight" the artisans who have graciously donated items for the prize package. Please join me in visiting these artisans, makers and vendors through their various websites (below). And don't forget to enter for your chance to win the prize package, valued at $300! Details >> HERE <<. Good luck! :)

Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your business:

I'm Julie Bruessel and I'm from Medford. I’m a wife and mother of two adult sons. I work part-time at the Buckham Memorial Library. I started selling jewelry for Premier Designs in January of 2017 after buying it for three years! I have two cats, Abby and Bleu. I love scrapbooking, gardening and photography. I'm Booster Club President to the Boys and Girls Faribault High School and Middle School teams!

Giveaway Items:

Are you a lover of delicates, and have a romantic flair? This upscale bracelet is a beautiful gold stretch bracelet with crystal accents. "It Girl" goes everywhere you go every day because you should look and feel your best every day!Retail value of your item(s): $20

December 11, 2017

Throughout the 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway, we will "spotlight" the artisans who have graciously donated items for the prize package. Please join me in visiting these artisans, makers and vendors through their various websites (below).

And don't forget to enter for your chance to win the prize package, valued at $300! Details >> HERE <<. Good luck! :)

Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your business:Hello! My name is Tracy and I am the owner of Faith, Soaps & Love.

Faith, Soaps & Love was born out of my desire for a creative outlet, my love of baking, me spending a lot of time shopping for soap online and my faith in God.

How do these things fit together? Well, the creative outlet part I am sure you understand, and the shopping part is pretty easy too! How does my love for baking come into play? Well, soaping is actually very much like baking - just a lot less calories!

My faith was an interesting piece to add to this puzzle. It took a while to figure out how to incorporate it but my wonderful husband made me the most amazing stamp (J316) to stamp the bottom of all my soaps.

J316 stands for John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

I do not take that soap stamp lightly nor the words it represents. Each soap is hand stamped by the one and only J316 stamp I have. It has stamped over ten thousand soaps over the years! Think of how many people have been blessed with this scripture whether they knew it or not! I love that!

Gradually, I have incorporated my faith into my packaging, many of the names of my products and product descriptions. It is fun finding scripture that matches a scent!

My products aren't in your face preachy and it is not my intention to be in your face about it. It is more of what I call my silent ministry. It certainly a gateway to conversation when a customer asks me if the J316 is a product number! It could be a great ministry tool for you as well.

All my products are made by me in my Minnesota home. I am a one woman show - I do everything from empty the trash cans to making the soap to mailing out your order!

Giveaway Items:

I am donating two bars of Three Wise Men soap. It is my hope that you keep one bar for yourself & bless someone else with the second bar. Maybe use it as a ministry tool?

When Jesus was born, the Magi presented frankincense and myrrh and gold to Him. These valuable items were standard gifts to honor a king or deity in the ancient world: gold as a precious metal, frankincense as perfume or incense, and myrrh as an anointing oil.

Three Wise Men Soap was crafted to convey this gifting. It is a wonderful, comforting combination of frankincense, myrrh, patchouli, and sandalwood.

And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Matthew 2:11